Consultations are by appointment except in emergencies.

Standard appointments are scheduled for 15 minute intervals. It is usually only possible to deal with one problem in that time. If you think you will need longer, please book a longer appointment which may incur an extra fee. It is very helpful if you can tell us whether your appointment is for a particular need such as ACC, insurance medicals, contraception, etc so they can be fitted in appropriately. For long term medical problems and non- urgent appointments, it is helpful if you could book 2-3 days ahead.

Please help us by telling the receptionist if your problem is urgent or you need extra time. Be sure to tell us if you are making an appointment for immunisations, minor surgery or other procedures, medicals or multiple problems. At times due to busyness we may need to call you back if you are wanting to make some longer appointments.

At times we may run late due to urgent or complicated patient problems and we ask for your understanding. Please, if you are running late, call us. We encourage you to have your own doctor at the medical centre. However, if necessary, you can see one of the other doctors who will have access to your medical record.

Accident Care

Assessment and treatment of minor and moderate injuries, including sprains, strains and lacerations.

Asthma Education
Before School Checks
Cervical Smears – With your Doctor or Nurse.
Childhood Immunisation – Our nurses are fully trained vaccinators.
Contraception & Family Planning – Free for under 21 year olds enrolled with our practice
Diabetes Care – With your doctor or our diabetes nurse
Dietary advice
ECG – Available for acute illness or when needed for insurance or other examinations.
Flu Vaccines
Hearing Tests – Tympanometry and screening audiometry.
Home visits
Illness Management – Assessment and treatment of all illnesses. This includes referrals to specialists or other healthcare providers where appropriate
Maternity care
Minor Surgery
Mole Checks
Overseas Travel Advice & Immunisation
Relaxation Classes
Rest Home Care
Sleep Assesment
Spirometry Assessment
Stop Smoking Programme
Wart Treatment – Available daily with your Nurse or Doctor.
Well Person Checks – Available with your Nurse and Doctor

Appointments
Immunisations
Prescriptions
Accident Care
Dietary Advice
Ear Checks
Influenza vaccination
Mole checks
Relaxation classes
Spirometry
Sleep studies
B4 school checks
Contraception and Sexual Health
Maternity Care
Rest Home Care
Home Visits
Trust Fund

Appointments
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Open hours :

Monday – Wednesday  8am – 6.30pm (phones switch over at 5.30pm)
Thursday – Friday 8am – 5.30pm (phones switch over at 5pm)
Saturday : 9am – 12 noon (phones switch over at 11.45am)
Consultations are by appointment except in emergencies.

Standard appointments are scheduled for 15 minute intervals. It is usually only possible to deal with one problem in that time. If you think you will need longer, please book a longer appointment which may incur an extra fee. It is very helpful if you can tell us whether your appointment is for a particular need such as ACC, insurance medicals, contraception, etc so they can be fitted in appropriately. For long term medical problems and non- urgent appointments, it is helpful if you could book 2-3 days ahead.

Please help us by telling the receptionist if your problem is urgent or you need extra time.   Be sure to tell us if you are making an appointment for immunisations, minor surgery or other procedures, medicals or multiple problems. At times due to busyness we may need to call you back if you are wanting to make some longer appointments.

At times we may run late due to urgent or complicated patient problems and we ask for your understanding.   Please, if you are running late, call us. We encourage you to have your own doctor at the medical centre.   However, if necessary, you can see one of the other doctors who will have access to your medical record.

Immunisations
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We provide

All immunisations on the government funded immunisation schedule.   If you would like more information about immunising your child, please come and talk to a doctor or practice nurse.
Influenza vaccination.   This is free to adults over 65 years of age, and to patients with many chronic illnesses.   It is available to others for a small charge.
Optional immunisations, e.g. varicella (chickenpox)
Tetanus boosters at age 45 and 65 years, and after injury.
Standard travel vaccinations.

Prescriptions
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For prescription requests, please give us at least 24 hours notice.
We encourage you to use the link on our home page or email on at prescriptions@pmc.co.nz. Please tell us your name, your Doctor, the medications and dosage and the pharmacy you would like this faxed to.  Please note there is a charge for repeat prescriptions.

Faxed prescriptions $20

To collect prescription $23

For same day prescriptions $28

Repeat prescriptions are at the doctor’s discretion, and you may be called back to make an appointment.   If there is any doubt please phone to check.

Request a Prescription

Accident Care
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We provide care for minor to moderate injuries.   Wounds can be dressed or stitched and referral made for additional treatment and investigations such as x-rays.   Please call in advance, where possible.   Urgent injuries can usually be seen promptly.

Dietary Advice
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A dietitian works in the medical centre.   You can ask the receptionist for an appointment with her, or discuss your concern with your doctor or practice nurse.   A fee applies, but alternative funding may be available on referral.

Ear Checks
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The practice nurses are trained to check ears for infection, fluid in the middle ear (glue ear) and wax in the ear.

Influenza vaccination
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Influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for all patients eligible for government funding.

A  –  All people 65 years of age and over

B  –  People under 65 years of age, including children with:

Cardiovascular disease (ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, cerebrovascular disease)
Chronic respiratory disease (asthma if on regular preventive therapy;  other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function
Diabetes
Chronic renal disease
Any cancer, excluding basal and squamous skin cancers if not invasive
Other conditions (autoimmune disease, immune suppression, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), transplant recipients, neuromuscular and central nervous system diseases, haemaglobinopathies, children on long term aspirin).

Influenza vaccine is also available for a fee to all other patients.

Mole checks
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Your doctor can do a mole check for you.   For a full mole check you will need to undress so make sure that you allow time for this.

Relaxation classes
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A series of classes are held over 6 weeks to teach techniques to manage stress in your life.

Spirometry
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This is a test of your lung capacity.   It is used to diagnose asthma and other chronic lung diseases and to test the lung function of smokers.   Your doctor may suggest that you have this test done by one of our practice nurses.   Please tell the receptionist that you are booking an appointment for this test.

Sleep studies
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Our medical centre has been approved by the Respiratory Department at Christchurch Hospital to carry out Level 4 Sleep Studies.   This is a screening test for patients who may be suffering from sleep apnoea.   If you think you might need this test done please discuss the problem with your doctor.

B4 school checks
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Two of our nurses have recently completed the training to carry out the new B4 school check which is offered to 4yr old children born after the 1/9/04. This check is designed to identify any potential health, behaviour or learning issues that a child may have and then work alongside the family to enable the child to be as best prepared for school as possible.

Contraception and Sexual Health
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These appointments are currently free to patients 20 years of age and under.
We can advise on all forms of contraception.   Some of our doctors insert intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD).   Advice regarding unplanned pregnancies is also available.
You can see a doctor or a nurse for your cervical smear or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) check.
We can also carry out the initial assessment and investigations for fertility problems, with referral when needed.

Maternity Care
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If you are planning a pregnancy, we encourage you to come and talk to us about this early.   A pregnancy test can be carried out by your practice nurse and doctors.   We are always pleased to see you to improve early pregnancy care and discuss your needs for care throughout the pregnancy and delivery.

Rest Home Care
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We provide care to patients in a number of nearby rest homes, with a regular schedule of visits.   If you move to a rest home in the practice area your own doctor may be able to continue providing your care.   You should discuss this with your GP.

Home Visits
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We provide home visits to patients who live in our practice area where this is needed.  While in most cases a visit to the surgery is preferable and provides access to the facilities of the centre, we understand that sometimes you may be too unwell to come in.   Please call as early in the day as possible to make your request.   It can be difficult to fit a visit in if the call comes later in the day.   A nurse or doctor may call you back for further details.

Trust Fund
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If you are struggling to meet the cost of essential health services, please talk to your doctor or practice nurse.   We may be able to help you with costs through our trust fund

Fees

  Enrolled patient Casual ACC surcharge
Child under 13 Free $37.00 Free
Child 13 to 17 $35.00 $60 – $64.00 $35.00
Adult 18+ $47.00 $79.00 $40.00
Saturday surcharge $10.00 $10.00 $10.00